Can someone explain to me why Boris Johnson is referred to as ‘Boris’ and Sadiq Khan is referred to as ‘Khan’?

[652needtogetup]

I’ve noticed not only on here but on social media too. I find it interesting that Boris Johnson is pretty much always called by his first name but Sadiq Khan is pretty much always called by his surname and actually ditto Keir Starmer.

Yes it did happen under Boris. That is just a blatant lie.

Because Johnson is another name for a cock……oh wait……

Burnham is always Burnham, never Andy. I noticed the (pathetically inadequate) LibDem candidate called him Burnham to his face in the tv debate last week.

London riots? Which famously Boris Johnson initially didn't even bother cutting his holiday short to get back to London.

Also some facts below on Sadiq Khan while he's been mayor (or major if you prefer).

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/26/fact-check-has-sadiq-khan-really-overseen-a-surge-in-london

Barak Obama is Obama.

FWIW if only ever seen Sadiq Khan referred to by his full name.

Politicians are usually either referred to as their surname for the most well known ones - Blair, Cameron, Corbyn etc. or full name. That's in casual conversation, not in formal media reports which would tend to use full name and then shorten to surname even if it's not someone not so well known or easily identified by their surname alone.
The Boris thing is partly from him cultivating a media personality from before becoming PM and partly from Boris being an unusual first name, whereas Johnson being a common surname.*
I would say that Sadiq Khan is usually referred to by his full name and if anything more often shortened to Sadiq in conversation, probably because Khan is a fairly common surname.

More that it influences the hard of thinking.
They wanted to make out like he was a nice bloke rather than a narcissist he was going to trash our economy and public services Purley for his own entertainment and personal gain.

Many prime ministers are commonly know by their first name. Remember Margaret, Tony, Harold, etc? It depends on the name. David Cameron was always known by his full name, as was Theresa May and is Rishi Sunak. I have also known Boris Johnson to be called 'BoJo' and, would you believe, ''BJ'! I've mostly heard Sadiq Khan called by his full name. Ken Livingstone was colloquially known as 'Red Ken'.

In my experience, men tend to be known by their last names, women by their first and last names, and then odd first names get rolled out for specific people like Boris. In calling him Boris instead of by his last name it's affectionate or demeaning or something, it's not a sign of high regard.

He was widely known before being mayor of London and PM. He was a regular on HIGNFY for instance, where he was called Boris. I think that's all it is, that he was already Boris in the minds of the public and the media when he became PM. (and when he got 'stuck' on that bloody zip line. Clown.'

He also actively cultivated that persona, and' 'Boris' was / is his public personality I guess.

FWIW if only ever seen Sadiq Khan referred to by his full name.

Same! I have never once heard anyone refer to him as "Khan".

Although maybe he's the best known, his father and brother were also politicians.

Because people just like saying Boris.

I know, what a bastard eh.

But hope is on the yonder when the progressives trounce those hard of thinking thickos at the next general election and we get our Sir Keir in charge. Good times ahead for all.

You’re like a dog with a bone here OP. What response are you angling for exactly?

Nothing, I just find it interesting.

For what it’s worth I only hear of Sadiq Khan being referred to as Sadiq Khan, never just Khan.

Sadiq Khan is almost exclusively referred to as 'Khan' by the slightly suspect and abusively critical Twitter/ X accounts I come across. Lots of people seem to refer to 'Khan's London'. Some also refer to Londonistan in the same tweets - there's a very clear anti-muslim message in their phrasing.

Yes there is definitely a lot of that to it.

I noticed they used to call Saddam Hussein by first name on the radio /TV
Made me grind my teeth

Al Johnson was the one who cut £20,000 police officers and closed dozens of fire stations. Put the blame where it should be.

It happens in Scotland too.
Nicola and Kate but Swinney or Flynn.

In those cases it's misogyny.

Keir is an unusual name though and that's not caught on as a "first-name-only" basis for Starmer has it?

I call him Keir but feel I have to add Sir as I would with other Sirs like Sir Rod and Sir Elton, Starmer is probably easier as you perhaps wouldn't use the sir as it doesn't sound right

Boris is an easily recognised village idiot. I don't know about "Khan".

(I should imagine that any parent who 'blessed' their son with the name Boris has lived to regret it.........)